Ergonomic Tools Can Reduce Wrist and Hand Pain

Do you experience pain or numbness in your wrist, hands or
forearms after a long day at your computer? Here are some tips to provide immediately
pain relief and to prevent further injury.

Immediate Relief from
Pain

Apply cold compresses
or ice. Cold packs can reduce the inflammation and pain in the wrists and
hands. Remember not to apply ice directly to the skin and only use it for 15 to
20 minutes at a time.

Try over the counter
medication. Some anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen quickly relieve
pain, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist before adding taking any new
medicine.

Use a wrist splint.
A good wrist
splint will keeps your hand and wrist straight and flat, not bent or held
back. Most people benefit greatest from using a splint at night when they to
flex their wrists without realizing it. Check out this article about how
and when to wear a wrist splint.

Using Ergonomic Tools
to Reduce and Prevent Pain

Maintain good your
hand and wrist posture. There are a few great tips that can help protect your
hands and wrists. First, let your hands lightly hover over the keyboard while typing. Secondly, relax
hands and finger in a slightly curved posture. Thirdly, keep your wrists
level, never flexed or bent upward, and keep your hands, wrists and arms
straight.

Use your wrist restproperly. Never place pressure directly on your wrist as this will
agitate the carpal tunnel area. Use the ball of your hand on your wrist rest to
support your hands. And don’t try to rest your hands or wrists while you are
actively typing. Learn how to benefit
from a wrist rest while avoiding the drawbacks.

Upgrade to an ergonomic keyboard that is designed
to encourage good hand and wrist posture. Choose one that feels comfortable and
fits your hands. The classic split keyboard
is gently curved to support the shape of your hands and wrists. The new mini
keyboards are compactly designed with the keys closer together, eliminating
the reach and strain often experienced with standard keyboards.

Adjust your keyboard
placement to encourage relaxed posture in your wrists and hands. Your keyboard should sit about an inch or two above your lap with your forearms
parallel to your thighs, and the keys should slope away from your body at a
slight angle. An ergonomic
keyboard tray
can make this angle and placement fast and easy.

Don’t ignore pain in your wrists! Try a good wrist
splint to provide protection and time for the muscles to heal. And upgrade
to ergonomic
keyboard to restore better posture in your hands and wrists. These simple
changes can help prevent your current discomfort from becoming a serious injury.